Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/16268
COMMUNITY NEWS a STAFF REPORT ging tails. Some volunteers at the Child Advocacy Center have four legs, soft fur, and wag- Last month the CAC launched a new program using therapy dogs to meet and greet children and their families when they come to the CAC for interviews related to child abuse. Being with a therapy dog can help calm a child and reduce the child’s level of anxiety. “It’s almost like having a security blanket, but it is a wonderful dog the child can pet,” says Jan Rogers, Forensic Interviewer. “Even just looking at the dog helps with overall stress reduction. The heart rate and breathing slows down. You can see the child’s neck and shoulder muscles relax.” Being greeted by a therapy dog is not only benefi cial for the child, but also helpful for the entire family, according to CAC staff. Several breeds are therapy dogs, but all must go through training and certifi cation. The therapy dogs’ handlers are volunteers who bring the dogs to the CAC. Several of the CAC therapy dogs and their trainers participated in the LaFayette Birthday Celebration Parade of Pooches on Saturday, Sept. 11. Forward March Conference Supports “Helping Professionals” In Moving Children Forward During Challenging Times As our men and women in uniform so bravely face the intense demands of serving a nation at war, so too do their children. To address these challenges, the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County, Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, and Southern Regional Area Health Education Center in affi liation with Duke University Medical Center, will hold the conference “Forward March: Moving Children Forward During Challenging Times,” September 16-17. “Forward March” will provide training and networking opportunities for behavioral and mental health professionals, faith based & elected leaders, educators, wounded warriors and members of the civilian and military community throughout our region who work to empower our military children and families. Mrs. Patty Shinseki, wife of former Joint Chief of Staff and the current Secre- tary of Veterans Affairs will be the opening plenary speaker. Mrs. Shinseki is a board member for the Military Child Education Coalition and a strong advocate for military A House Not So Divided children. Joining Mrs. Shinseki are world renowned experts in the fi elds of child and adolescent psychiatry and psychology, forensic pediatrics, cognitive behavior and family therapy, biofeedback, social work, and resiliency, as well as military leadership, such as Garrison Commander Colonel Stephen J. Sicinski, and Commanding General of Fort Bragg, Lt. General Frank Helmick. For the Forward March Program Booklet visit www.southernregionalahec.org/ professionals/pdf/booklet9-17.pdf. For more information or to register, go to http:// aheconnect.com/registration/srahec/eventdetail.asp?EventID=31409 Attendees can receive a $49.00 rate from the Innkeeper Hotel in Fayetteville. Just call 910-867-7659. Also note that this is for any room type, king or double and they offer a free complimentary breakfast. Any questions or concerns, please contact John Freudenberg, Government & Mili- tary Affairs Liaison with the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County. He can be reached at 910.826.3122 or JFreudenberg@ccpfc.org. ZipQuest Makes USA Today List ZipQuest Fayetteville’s new tree top canopy tour that only opened in July, has been included on USA Today’s list of Ten Great Ziplines in the USA. Located in north Fayetteville, ZipQuest is a 2 ½ hour treetop tour, during which one’s feet never touch the ground. The course of eight ziplines includes a variety of landing platforms, among them a fl oating spiral staircase that elegantly wraps around a tree, and three “Indiana Jones” suspension canopy bridges, the longest at 200 feet. ZipQuest’s elaborate engineering and elegant architectural designs were among the reasons ZipQuest was included on the list. Editors also appreciated that the land and its prized waterfall is privately owned, and had previously been inaccessible to the general public. “We are really proud of this course,” said Lead Designer Joel Hoffman of S.T.E.P.S., Inc., which designed and constructed ZipQuest. He added, “We’ve designed zipline canopy courses throughout the country and this one is more fun and has more unique tree structures than any other canopy tour I’ve been a part of. It’s a beautiful property and this is a great way to enjoy it!” COMMUNITY NEWS Therapy Dogs Bring Comfort to Abuse Victims 3006 Bragg Blvd. Fayetteville, NC 910.323.1791 8 UCW SEPTEMBER 15-21, 2010 ALL TEAM SPORTS Mention this ad and receive 20% OFF* your next team purchase. *Restrictions apply. “TWO are better than ONE” 5613 Rockfish Road Hope Mills, NC 910.609.1791 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM